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This is a link to Wunderground.com weather station listings map in Newport CA. The second link is a list of weather stations connected to Wunderground in your area.

The second link will show information in list form. You can see how much the wind speeds will vary on any day in different location near Newport CA.

Wind and land are a crazy mix. Think of it this way;

The lee shore of a small island can be like putting your finger over a garden hose. There will be shelter from the wind on a somewhat breezy day (low water flow and you can stop it with your finger). If the wind starts piping up and it will get a little gusty (turn up the flow and it starts to leak). If it really starts to blow it can feel windier on the lee shore than on the windward shore. This is not an explanation to read all weather, just trying to prove that conditions can change quite a bit in a short distance. You get the idea....

Now throw in temperature, hills, valleys, mouths of rivers, currents, wind direction... Local knowledge and experience is the only way to learn.

11-03-2011 10:45 AM

FLCoaster

not sure if anyone has suggested this already but among sailflow, windfinder and some other apps and sites online, weatherbug also has LOTS of local weather stations in most areas that have exsisting conditions and pretty accurate forecasts. There is also an app for iphone available

11-03-2011 10:20 AM

smurphny

One thing for sure, as others have mentioned is that the regular NOAA land forecasts that you get on your weather radio have little to do with what you'll find a short distance outside an inlet. These can be very misleading and are really designed for inshore consumption. Local knowledge will tell you that if the NOAA forecast says 5-10, it may well be 25 on the water as soon as you leave the lee of land. These are even more useless when you get farther offshore where a whole different world of weather exists once shore effects are gone. The forecast maps and wind/wave maps available via Weatherfax are more useful than local forecasts for sailing. With a little knowledge of how these systems progress and a watchful eye on a barometer and the sky, you can make some pretty reliable calls on your own, often better than what you'll get from other sources.

There is no easy way to just tune in somewhere and depend on what you hear. It takes time and effort every day to make stay/go decisions.

11-03-2011 09:53 AM

GMC

APP - Windfinder

As one person noted above, the app you are looking for is Windfinder, available on both Android and Apple.

BTW. It can be blowing 20 kts at JWA and it will be 2 Kts on the bay. Don't follow the airport readings.

10-09-2011 10:53 PM

GMFL

For Newport Harbor winds can be tricky. It can be blowing hard in the harbor and literally be dead outside the jetties. So for outside the harbor look at sites posted by others (wind finders, surf line etc.). For inside the harbor check out:

That's a link to the weather page but go back out to the main page and there are cameras on the bay. And you can check it out visually too.

10-09-2011 01:16 PM

Boasun

And then you have the Cape effect... While you make an easy breeze offshore. But as you near land the shape of the points, capes and gorges will funnel that air mass and the wind will increase in a manner that may be alarmingly to you. Plan for it and you will enjoy a good fast sail. That is until you are away from that cape effect.
Cape effect areas that I've sail through; Point Loma, San Diego. Columbia Gorge, Columbia River. Hood Canal, Washington. And many more to name... But can you name the ones in your area?

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